Planter unit



J. T. MURPHY Oct. 27 1953 PLANTER UNIT 3 Sheets-$116611 Filed March 19,1948 '7." MURPHY J b7, ATTORNE Y3 R m m W.

JOHN

Oct. 27, 1953 J. T. MURPHY PLANTER UNIT.

Filed March 19, 1948 5 SheetsShee-t '2 Q A TTORNEYS Oct. 27, 1953 J. T.MURPHY 2,656,951

PLANTER UNIT Filed March 19, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l ""l" .ml lmINVENTOR. JOHN 7. MURPHY duh/ 37- M37; ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 27, 1953UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLANTER UNIT John T. Murphy, Brownsville,Tenn, assignor to Harry Ferguson, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation ofDelaware 2 Claims.

The present invention pertains generally to planter units and moreparticularly to a rotary seed dispensing mechanism for a planter unit ofthe basic type illustrated in the patent application of Harold V.Hansen, Serial No.

643,628, filed January 26, 1946. It should be appreciated, however, thatwhile the invention is particularly well adapted for use with a planterunit of this character, such use is by no means an exclusive one.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a planter unit havingan improved drive for the seed dispensing mechanism wherein frictionalengagement between the moving parts will be held to a minimm.

Another object is to provide a planter unit of the above characterhaving a precisely centered seed plate driving arrangement which may bereadily disassembled and reassembled without disrupting the centering ofsuch arrangement.

A further object is to provide a planter unit of the type set forth andhaving a seed plate drive which will be susceptible of both simple andeconomical manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the followingdetailed description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a planter unit embodying thepresent invention, such unit being in a lowered or working position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view throughthe planter unit of Fig. 1, taken in the plane of the line 2--2 in Fig.3, with the central portion of the driving gear and its housing brokenaway to show details of the intermediate drive member and itsrelationship to the gear.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view through theseed hopper, taken in the plane of the line 3-3 in Fig. 2 and showing inplan a portion of the drive for the seed dispensing mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line4-4 of Fig. 2 through the gear box of the dispensing mechanism drive.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, a preferred embodiment has been shown in thedrawings and will be herein described in some details, but it is to beunderstood that there is no intention to limit the invention to thespecific form disclosed, the intention being, on the contrary, to coverall modifications and alternative constructions falling within thespirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, a planter unit Illconstituting an illustrative embodiment of the invention is there shownin trailed relation to a transverse drawbar I I which may be attached toa towing vehicle by means of any appropriate hitch linkage. Through theuse of one or more pairs of vertically spaced parallel links I2 and I4the unit In is permitted to floatingly trail behind the drawbar II.Pivotally attached to the trailing ends of the links I2, I4 is a wingedapron plate I5. Associated with the latter and fixed thereto as a rigidunit are a furrow opener IS, a boot I! and a seed hopper I8, togetherwith a rotary seed dispensing mechanism I9. Trailingly secured to theapron I5 by means of a U-frame 20 is a press In addition to its normalfunction of covering the seeds in the furrow made by the planter, thewheel 2| is also utilized as a gaging means for regulating the depth ofplanting and 'as a source of power for driving the seed dispensingmechanism.

The connection between the parallel links I2, I4 and the drawbar I I maybe made in any con venient manner. In the present instance, this isaccomplished through the use of a transversely disposed structural bar22 which is maintained in rigid abutment against the drawbar II by apair of clamping straps 24. Arranged in axially spaced relationshipalong the bar 22 and rigidly fixed thereto are a pair of uprightbrackets 25, the links I2 and I4 being pivotally attached to therespective extremities of the former.

With the connections described between the brackets 25, the links I2, I4and the apron I5,

r it will be noted that a parallelogram type coupling has been providedbetween the unit I0 and the drawbar H, such coupling inherentlypermitting a certain degree of vertical float of the unit.

However, in the event that it be desired to elevate the planter unit toa transport position by the expedient of elevating the drawbar H, theparallelogram coupling would droop downwardly from the drawbar making itimpossible to lift the unit clear of the ground with a reasonable elevation of the drawbar. To eliminate such downward droop and therebyresolve this difficulty, the opposite corners of the parallelogram areconnected by a check chain 2% having a limited amount of slack.

Pivotally attached as at 2B and extending rearwardly from the apron i5is the U-frame so for portions 32 spanned by a suitable reinforcingbracket 33. Overlying the rearward portion of the opener l6 and rigidlysecured to the bracket 33 is the boot I? which, as shown in Figs. 1 and2, comprises a hollow upstanding casting for supportingand housing theseed dispensing mechanism it. The boot casting has an inclined frontwall 34 which extends forwardly and into abutment with the rearward sideof the apron Iii. The casting also has spaced-apart side walls 35 whichsimilarly abut the apron, being rigidly attached thereto as by suitablewelds 36. By way of further reinforcement, the boot ll is also bolted toa transverse bar 38 which spans the winged portions of the apron.

Theuse of the foregoing arrangement permits the apron E5, the opener l6,and the boot ll to be maintained together as a unitary assembly 38.Furthermore, such assembly is susceptible of rockable adjustment aboutthe pivot points 25 and with respect to the press wheel frame 2!! inorder to vary the working depth at which the planter unit will operate.adjustment is provided in the form of an upright link 39 (see Fig. 1)carried by a pair of laterally spaced brackets is extending rearwardlyfrom the boot ll. The link to is fashioned with a series oflongitudinally spaced holes 41! each adapted to register selectivelywith a pair of comparable holes as in the frame 20.. Upon registrationof selected one of the holes il with the holes 42, the insertionther'ethrough of a locking pin will maintain the desired adjustmentbetween the frame it and theunitary assembly 38. As an incident to suchadjustment, the unitary assembly 38 will move in a generally verticaldirection, the frame to merely rocking up or down upon the axis ofthe'press Wheel shaft 29.

For the purpose of storing a quantity of seed in the planter unit to,the latter is equipped with a hopper H3 in the form of a cylindricaldrum "having. a detachable cover 44 resiliently maintained in place asby the use of a tension spring 45. At its lower end, the hopper i8 isformed with an inturned circumferential flange st to which is rigidlyfixed a border ring 38 of inverted L-shap-ed cross section (refer toFig. 1). The transverse bottom as of the hopper is a convex spider-like,support member having a series of Means for making this radiallyextendingmounting lugs 49a for attachment to the border ring 48. Due tothe the upper face of the plate.

'4 contour of its peripheral edges, the bottom 49 when installed in thehopper is surrounded by a series of segmental marginal openings 50between such edges and the inner circumferential surface of the borderring 48.

In order to'detachably secure the hopper [8 to the apron l5, anappropriate hinge connection is provided. Referring more specifically toFig. 3, it will be observed that a pair of spaced apart parallelbrackets El are fixed to the hopper border ring 48. Projectingrearwardly from the apron l5 and unitary therewith are a pair ofsupporting brackets 52 spaced somewhat closer together than the brackets51. Each set of brackets 52 is formed with a pair of upwardly andoutwardly facing slots which are adapted detachably to receive asuitable hinge pin 56 carried by bracketslll. With the latter in place,the hopper [8 may readily berocked upon a transverse, substantiallyhorizontal axis to separate the driven mechanism on the hopper from thelocating and drive mechanism on the gear case and permit the hopper tobe lifted away.

A suitable seating surface for the hopper I8 is obtained through the useof an annular false plate 55 which may conveniently be fashioned from asimple sheet metal stamping. The plate 55, in turn, seats upon a seriesof upstanding ears 56 unitary with a gear case 57 in the dispensingmechanism drive. The plate 55 also derives some support from a pair ofspaced-apart hooks 58 unitary therewith and arranged to overlie thehinge pin 5 carried in the brackets El, 52. 7 With the foregoingconstruction, the hopper I8 may conveniently be positioned upon theplate 55 with the border ring 48 of the former in abutment with For thepurpose of maintaining this abutting relationship and preventingaccidental lifting of the hopper, any suitable disengageable clampingmeans may be employed such, for example, as a detachable hook 559 whichis adapted to engage the eye of an up wardly projecting tab 60 mountedon the brackets 40 of the boot:

Circumferentially enclosed by the border ring 33 of the hopper anddisposed in concentric bearing engagement with the face of the falseplate 55 is a seed plate annulus 61 (Figs. 2, 3) of slightly crownedcontour. The latter is fashioned with a series of peripheral cells t2which underlie the segmental marginal openings 5c in. the hopper bottomand are adapted to receive seeds from the hopper 18. Upon rotation ofthe seed plate 6!, its cells 62 register sequentially with an apertureor port 56 in the false plate, permitting seeds to drop therethrough andinto an underlying seed tube 65 housed within the boot ii. To insurethat only one seed at a time will be fed to r the tube 65, a knocker esof well known form is mounted on the hopper bottom is and in operativeengagement with the seed plate 6 l As heretofore indicated, power fordriving the seed dispensing mechanism is is obtained from' the presswheel 21.

ment of the invention, a belt drive is employed for In the illustrativeembodiamass;

sociated with the gear box 51 which is adapted to be filled with anappropriate lubricant. vIn order .to prevent theescape of excessivequantities of lubricant from the gear box 51, sealing washers 14 may bemounted on the shaft 12 in close proximity to the bearings 13. Pinned orotherwise secured to the shaft 12 at a point just inside the gear box51, is a pinion 15 having teeth which drivingly mesh with the teeth of acrown gear 16. The latter is formed with a depending central boss 11terminating in a downwardly extending centering stem 1 8. The stem 18 isjournaled in a bushing 19 which is unitary with an upstanding bracket 80fixed to the floor of the gear case so as to straddle the drive shaft12. The upper peripheral portion of the crown gear 16 is fashioned witha contour having a complemental relationship with the surrounding wallportion of the gear case and is of suitable size to constitute acomfortable rotating fit therewith. Disposed in a circumferentiallyspaced pattern on the upper face of the crown gear 16 are a plurality ofupstanding driving lugs 81 unitary with the former. The upper portion ofthe gear case may be sealed against the entry of foreign matter by meansof a rotatable annular dust cap 82 fixed to the crown gear 1*6 as bymachine screw 83 and provided with suitably spaced apertures throughwhich the upstanding driving lugs 8| project.

For the purpose of transmitting power between the seed plate 6! and theupper portion of the crown gear 16, such portion actually constituting adriving head, an intermediate drive member 84 is used (Figs. 2 and 3).The member 84 in the present instance is formed with a number of radialspokes 85 and is journaled for free rotation upon a centering pin orstub shaft 86. As shown, such pin is of axially hollow construction andis bolted rigidly to the hopper bottom 49 by a longitudinal bolt 86Awhich holds the upper end of the pin lodged in a central conical recess81 in the hopper bottom. The hub of the drive member 84 is formed on itsunderside with a depending boss 88 of proper size to fit comfortablyinto a guiding or centering recess 89 located within the head of thegear 16 and concentric with the centering stem 18 thereof (Fig. 4). Asshown, the pin retaining bolt 86A depends below the boss 88 to connectwith an enlarged abutment having axial engagement with the lower end ofthe boss. In the present instance, an enlarged head 86B is formed on thelower end of the bolt to engage a washer 86C interposed between the bolthead and the boss. Thus, the bolt 86A, together with the head 86B andwasher 860, form axial retaining means for supporting the drive member84 from the transverse support 49 on the hopper 18. The member 84 isalso fashioned with a plurality of lugs 90 extending downwardly and intothe rotational path of the lugs 8| on the crown gear to form a drivingconnection therewith, the consequent driving engagement between the lugs8i and 90 producing rotation of such member. The spokes B5 of the member84 are of equal radial dimension, their ends extending into abutmentwith the inner periphery of the annular seed plate 6 I. The innerperiphery of the plate 6| is formed with a plurality of driven lugs 9|which are adapted to be engaged by complemental lugs 92 unitary with thespokes 85 and located adjacent their outer extremities. This constitutesa positive driving connection between the member 84 and the seed plate6|.

With the arrangement described, it is possible to control and transmit.power eflicientlyfrom the press wheel 2| to the seed platetl...Furthermore, all unnecessary friction in the drive is cdmpletelyeliminated, thereby minimizing wear on the moving parts. While thelatter are precisely centered when the drive is operating, it ispossible to lift the hopper and its associated parts and immediatelyrestore them "to operating position without disturbing the centeringarrange ment. It will be appreciated that upon upward pivotal movementof the hopper [8 the intermediate drive member 84 is liftedby the bol'tB-BA out of interconnecting engagement with the crown gear 16 and theseed plate 8|. Upon return of the hopper [8 to operative position, theintermediate drive member is automatically lowered into engagement withits coacting working elements. On the other hand, it is possible todisassemble the drive, quickly substitute a different seed plate for theone previously used, and then to reassemble the drive perfectlycenteredwithout having to make a special adjustment fdi' this purpose.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a seed planter a seed dispensing assembly comprising, incombination, a rotary mechanism for dispensing seed in timed relation totranslatory movement of the planter, a seed hopper pivotally mountedadjacent said mechanism for vertical swinging movement between anoperative seed supplying position overlying said mechanism and aninoperative position vertically removed from said mechanism forrendering access thereto; said mechanism including a generallyhorizontal ring-like false plate having a seed discharge port therein; aseed dispensing annulus slidably disposed in overlying relation to saidfalse plate, and a driving pinion rotatably mounted about an axis spacedfrom said false plate, a driving head concentric with said false plateand rotatably mounted about a generally vertical axis, gear teeth onsaid head meshing with said pinion, upwardly accessible central guidemeans on said head concentric with the axis thereof, driving lugs onsaid head, driving lugs on said seed dispensing annulus, a transversesupport member mounted in the lower end of said hopper and movabletherewith, journaling means on said support member concentric with therotary axis of said head, an intermediate driving member rotatablymounted on said journaling means and having first driving lugs thereoncomplementary to said head lugs and second driving lugs thereoncomplementary to said seed annulus lugs, and said intermediate memberhaving central guide means on the lower side thereof concentric withsaid journal means and axially engageable with said driving head guidemeans to center said intermediate member and said hopper with saiddriving head.

2. In a seed planter, a seed dispensing assembly comprising, incombination, a rotary mechanism for dispensing seed in timed relation totranslatory movement of the planter, a seed hopper pivotally mountedadjacent said mechanism for vertical swinging movement between anoperative seed supplying position overlying said. mechanism and aninoperative position vertically removed from said mechanism forrendering access thereto, said mechanism including a ringlike falseplate having a discharge port therein, a seed dispensing annulusslidably disposed in overlying relation to said false plate, drivinglugs on said annulus, and a driving pinion rotatably 7 mounted about anaxis spaced from said false plate, a transverse support member mountedin the lower end of said hopper and movable therewith, journaling meanson said support member concentric with said false plate and said seedannulus, a disengageable driving member rotatably mounted on saidjournaling means and having driving lugs thereon complementaryto saidseed annulus lugs, retaining means connected to said journaling meansand having upward axial engagement with said driving member to supportthe latter from said transverse support member for engagement with saidseed plate when said hopper is in operative position and to carry saiddriving member upwardly out of engagement with said seed plate upontilting of said hopper to inoperative position, gear means coacting withsaid driving member to connect the latter with said pinion when saidhopper is in operative position, and centrally disposed interconnectingmeans 'on said drive member and said gear means for maintaining thelatter in alinement with said drive member and said hopper.

JOHN T. MURPHY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 610,771 Schofield Sept. 13, 1898 873,708 Bering et al Dec. 17,1907 1,001,367 Dennis Aug. 22, 1911 1,016,766 Packham Feb. 6, 19121,030,331 Ruel et al. June 25, 1912 1,062,449 Ford May 20, 19131,174,130 Dooley Mar. 7, 1916 1,189,718 Michael et al. July 4, 19161,195,483 Lindgren Aug. 22, 1916 1,236,5 9 White Aug. 14, 1917 1,265,323Graham May 7, 1918 1,282,648 Smith Oct. 22, 1918 ,512,256 White Oct. 21,1924 1,677,469 Dennis July 17, 1928 1,944,381 Wamhoff Jan. 23, 1934

